The Western Australian Government has announced in Perth significant new rules to protect Western Australia’s most popular recreational fisheries, including new licences and further restrictions. Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said more restrictions on popular demersal (bottom dwelling) scalefish and some nearshore species as well as changes to the recreational licence system were needed to ensure the sustainability of Western Australia’s fish stocks. Mr Moore said there was wide recognition in Government and the community that significant parts of WA’s fisheries were at risk of collapse and needed greater protection. He said revenue raised from the new licensing system would be quarantined in a recreational fishing trust and only spent on matters related to recreational fishing. “The Government will not reduce its current level of funding for recreational fishing to offset the rise in funding from the new fishing licenses,” the Minister said. “We want greater protection for our fish stocks. This new management regime is crucial to ensure Western Australia maintains a high quality and sustainable recreational fishery. “Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that our fisheries are at risk unless immediate action is taken. The commercial sector has already addressed this issue and now it is time for the recreational fishing sector to do its part.” Mr Moore said that in the past decade, population growth and the greater use of equipment such as global positioning systems and echo sounders had made a huge impact on fish stocks. He said experts agreed that the Department of Fisheries had to provide more rigorous compliance, greater research and better management measures to help maintain the sustainability of the fisheries. Independent management and science reviews of West Coast demersal scalefish had led to the State Government’s latest decision. “The independent reviews that I commissioned on becoming Minister for Fisheries have confirmed departmental advice that stocks of popular demersal species, such as dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, are over-fished,” he said. “The experts agree that a demersal scalefish catch reduction of at least 50 per cent is required by the recreational fishing sector. “Management changes to take effect from mid-October 2009 see the introduction of two new recreational fishing licences.“From mid-October, people fishing from a boat anywhere in the State (including those fishing from charter boats) will need a $30 fishing licence and people targeting demersal scalefish will need an additional, specific, demersal licence. Anyone fishing for demersal scalefish from a boat near Perth will need both a boat fishing licence and a demersal licence. “This new West Coast demersal licence will cost $20 for one day, $60 for a fortnight or $150 annually to fish for any of the listed species.

“The current 50 per cent discount on all licences for pensioners and children under 16 will continue to apply.” A two-month ban on recreational fishing for demersal scalefish near Perth starts October 15 to December 15 each year. “Information obtained from licence holders will help the Department of Fisheries improve its capacity to monitor and manage the fisheries,” he said. “However, to make it clear, the licences only apply to individuals fishing from boats. People fishing from beaches or jetties and shore-based crab fishers will not need a licence except where existing licences already apply.” The recreational boat fishing licence will apply State-wide for any form of fishing where a boat is used, including:

line fishing (handline, rod, squid jigging

catching crabs

spearfishing

octopus trapping

dip netting for prawns

any wading, diving or angling to catch fish, crabs or shellfish are taken where a boat is used to access the fishing location.

The new West Coast demersal licence will apply in the West Coast bioregion which extends from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs north of Kalbarri.

Mr Moore said new precautionary measures were also needed to address the way changes to demersal scalefish arrangements would be likely to shift the recreational fishing focus onto nearshore fish species like herring and tailor. “The new mixed bag limit for lower risk category three fish in the West Coast bioregion will drop from 40 per angler to 30 and for medium risk category two fish from 16 to 12,” he said. “Increased research is vital in monitoring the sustainability of all species. Revenue raised by the new licences will help fund this research and support more compliance, enforcement and education programs. “The State Government will continue to apply a fee to each of the following existing licences: rock lobster, abalone, marron, freshwater angling and recreational netting - but the fee will rise to a standard $45 for each type of fishing. “This will provide consistency in fees between different recreational fishing activities following the removal of the existing ‘umbrella’ licence and provide for improved data collection for the purposes of additional research and management.”